Visual aptasensor based on PtNPs/g-C3N4 and DNase I for the field detection of acetamiprid

A visual aptasensor based on the combination of graphitic carbon nitride loaded with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs/g-C 3 N 4 ) and deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) was developed for detecting acetamiprid. The prepared PtNPs/g-C 3 N 4 exhibited excellent peroxidase (POD)-like activity, demonstrating the capacity to oxidize the colourless o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to produce the coloured product diaminophenazine (DAP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). The DNA aptamer of acetamiprid can adsorb onto the surface of PtNPs/g-C 3 N 4 , thereby inhibiting its POD activity. The binding of acetamiprid to its aptamer results in the aptamer desorbing from the surface of PtNPs/g-C 3 N 4 and subsequent digestion by DNase I. Ascribed to the synergistic effect of these factors, the aptasensor can achieve the rapid on-site detection of acetamiprid based on the acetamiprid-induced the colour change of the solution just with the smartphone. Furthermore, due to the remarkable fluorescence signal of DAP at 570 nm, the aptasensor under fluorescence mode enables highly sensitive and quantitative detection of acetamiprid with a linear range of 1 ng/mL to 4 µg/mL and a detection limit as low as 0.31 ng/mL. The aptasensor has successfully realized the detection of acetamiprid in river water and cucumber samples, offering a novel perspective for the rapid assessment of environmental pollution and food safety risks associated with acetamiprid residues. Graphical abstract